Midnight drive near Delhi Mosque triggers violence, Owaisi flags Waqf Act

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Wednesday alleged that a portion of a Waqf-notified property attached to a mosque in Delhi was demolished during a late-night anti-encroachment drive , raising questions over why the action was carried out hours before its scheduled time and despite the land being recorded as Waqf property.

An anti-encroachment operation was conducted near the Faiz-e-Elahi mosque , located opposite Turkman Gate in Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan area, during the intervening night of Tuesday and Wednesday. According to official schedules, the drive was slated to begin at 8.30 am on Wednesday. However, demolition activity reportedly began around 1.30 am, triggering tension in the area.

The late-night operation sparked unrest after social media posts claimed that the mosque itself was being demolished. Several people allegedly pelted stones at police personnel, injuring five officers. Police responded by firing tear gas shells to disperse the crowd and restore order.

Authorities have maintained that the demolition was part of an anti-encroachment exercise targeting unauthorised structures on public land. However, Owaisi claimed that the razed portion formed part of a mosque property that was declared Waqf land through a gazette notification issued in 1970.

Addressing a rally ahead of the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar civic polls in Maharashtra, Owaisi questioned the timing and intent of the demolition. “At 1.30 am, the property of a mosque near Turkman Gate was razed. It is Waqf property as per a 1970 gazette notification. If the drive was scheduled for the morning, why was it carried out at midnight?” he asked.

He alleged that the action was linked to the recently amended Waqf Act, which he termed a “black law”, claiming it was being used to seize Muslim religious properties. “What happened in Delhi is only the beginning after the Waqf Act was passed in Parliament,” Owaisi said, urging people to respond politically.

Owaisi also alleged that the Delhi High Court had wrongly adjudicated the title of the land despite the gazette notification declaring it as Waqf property. He criticised the Delhi Waqf Board for failing to file a review petition, adding that the matter would now be taken to the Supreme Court.

“This law was made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi with the support of Eknath Shinde, Ajit Pawar and Chandrababu Naidu. It is being used to snatch our mosques and graveyards,” he alleged.

Appealing to voters in Maharashtra, Owaisi urged them to oppose Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar in the upcoming local body elections, calling on them to support AIMIM to protect religious institutions.

Speaking on constitutional values, Owaisi said the Preamble of the Constitution begins with “We, the people” and not “Bharat Mata”. Referring to the celebration of 150 years of Vande Mataram in Parliament, he said there was no discussion on Dr B.R. Ambedkar’s emphasis on freedom of thought, faith, expression and religion.

He further asserted that the Constitution guarantees Muslims the right to worship Allah. “I did not compromise with the fundamentals of my religion or the Constitution,” he said.

Maharashtra AIMIM president Imtiaz Jaleel , who also addressed the rally, said internal divisions had hurt the party in the previous Lok Sabha elections and warned that similar elements were active ahead of the municipal polls.

Referring to a recent attack on his vehicle, Jaleel said AIMIM would not be intimidated and demanded strict police action against those involved. Owaisi echoed the demand and said he would visit the affected area in the coming days.

“I am not afraid. I always go where people challenge me,” Owaisi said.